The anticipation for Henry Saiz’s entry in the Balance series started early on inthemix, and the result was well worth the wait. The sentiments of our reviewer – in a nutshell: “grab your copy as quickly as you can” – were roundly echoed in the ITM forums. As all the best Balance inductees do, Saiz aimed for timelessness in his selections, drawing on unreleased productions and his own collaborations with other artists. The final product is certainly something special.

Given the admiration around these parts for the Spanish impresario, we were determined to go a little deeper than a standard interview. After hearing what ten records never leave the side of Balance 018 helmer Nick Warren, it made sense to ask the same of Saiz. Happily for us, he agreed – however there was no way he could keep the list to just ten. So here we go: the top 20 seminal tracks that have shaped his love of electronic music, from James Holden to Daft Punk. Think of this as an unofficial third disc to Balance 019.

Dune – Espiral

“This was a classic underground anthem in Spain during the ‘90s and is one of the first EDM tracks I listened to when I was a child. It showed me how powerful this music could be in a club.”

James Holden – A Break In The Clouds

“James needs no introduction. The first time I heard this track I felt so connected to it, almost like this song was always living inside of me. This is the work of an absolute genius and one of those tracks that can change your life.”